HP Umpire Tony Randazzo ejected Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek and pitcher Jonathan Papelbon for arguing a ball call in the top of the 9th inning of the A's-Red Sox game. In the Varitek ejection, none out and one on, A's batter Daric Barton took a 3-2 fastball from Papelbon for a called fourth ball. Varitek was ejected during a play in which A's batter Cliff Pennington hit a RBI double. Replays indicate all callable pitches during the two at bats were correctly ruled, the call was correct. In the Papelbon ejection, A's batter Connor Jackson hit a 0-0 fastball for a 2 RBI single; there were no callable pitches during the at bat. Papelbon then threw one pitch to A's batter Ryan Sweeney, was ejected, and replaced by Red Sox pitcher Bobby Jenks; the one callable pitch thrown by Papelbon (a called strike) was correctly ruled; the call was correct. At the time of the first ejection, the Red Sox were leading, 7-5. At the time of the second ejection, the contest was tied, 7-7. The Red Sox ultimately won the contest, 9-8, in 14 innings.
These are Tony Randazzo (11)'s first and second ejections of 2011.
Tony Randazzo now has 8 points in the Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (0 Previous + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call + 2 MLB + 2 Correct Call = 8).
Tony Randazzo was
undrafted in 2011.
*This ejection is eligible for a Ball/Strikes Exemption under UEFL Rule 6.e.iv.b.
These are the 61st and 62nd ejections of 2011.
These are the 25th and 26th player ejections of 2011.
Prior to his ejection, Varitek was 0-3 in the contest.
Prior to his ejection, Papelbon allowed 4 runs in 0.1 IP.
Wrap:
A's at Red Sox 6/4/11 Wrap
Video (1):
Randazzo tosses Varitek, Papelbon
Video (2):
Varitek and Papelbon ejected (1:35)
Pitch f/x courtesy Brooks Baseball
Randazzo had 11 callable pitches for Papelbon and got two wrong one for a strike and one for a ball... here is the data sorry it's not a clickable link
ReplyDeletehttp://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/pfx.php?s_type=3&sp_type=1&batterX=0&month=06&day=04&game=gid_2011_06_04_oakmlb_bosmlb_1%2F&year=2011&pitchSel=449097&prevGame=gid_2011_06_04_oakmlb_bosmlb_1%2F
The result is a VERY long game!! I'm sure that both players will be getting hammered by anyone not a Boston fan on this site shortly :)
Notice this ejection is eligible for a balls/strikes exemption, if you wish to challenge it. By rule, we don't penalize an umpire for a call made that benefits a team (if a called strike out of the zone, and the pitcher is ejected, that call isn't considered). If challenged, we would consider the ball call within the zone as IC.
ReplyDeleteBut.. the game has to end first...
If you look at the strike plot from the entire inning with Papelbon pitching, Randazzo was very consistent and didn't blow any calls. I'm a big Sox fan, but a good job by Tony not to put up with the frustration of Tek and Pap.
ReplyDeleteThis is the plot I used.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/cache/location.php-pitchSel=449097&game=gid_2011_06_04_oakmlb_bosmlb_1&batterX=&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=.gif
Randazzo just doing his job, and doing a fine job. Paps is just annoyed he blew the save, 'Tek is just annoyed that Paps was choking. Can't wait to see how ESPN blasts Randazzo for going against their beloved Red Sox.
ReplyDeleteI'm a sox fan and can't stand Pap. Pap gets ejected after a strike call? That is messed up.
ReplyDeleteTony seemed to have a tight zone consistently through the entire game,for both teams,and although it is frustrating for fans and players,he did a good job.
The only thing I would criticize Tony on is baiting Pap into the argument which led to the ejection-but at that point all parties were frustrated,and Pap is a jerk and probably deserved it,but still..
The hell? I was at Fenway watching and it was more than clear that Tiny Randazzo was blowing calls left and right. What kind of messed up computer graph are you using? Looks like a fake you'd put together in mspaint
ReplyDeleteJanet, this graph is from pitch f/x. A program that utilizes computers and cameras to plot pitches from the release point, initial velocity, final velocity, spin, and location on an x and y axis.
ReplyDeleteNo, I'm sure the pitch f/x program is malfunctioned. You can always see the calls better from the stands!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said, "The only thing I would criticize Tony on is baiting Pap into the argument which led to the ejection-but at that point all parties were frustrated,and Pap is a jerk and probably deserved it,but still.. "
ReplyDeleteRandazzo didn't bait Papelbon. Pabelbon showed Randazzo up (after a strike call, no less). Randazzo stepped out and reacted, then Papelbon completely melted down.
It also appear Papelbon made contact with the umpire, so a suspension is quite possible.
Love how MLB.com altered the video as not to show Paps get ejected...It's here: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=15537273
ReplyDeleteHaha. Papsmear freezes on the strike call and barks something (presumably stupid) at Randazzo, Tony steps out from behind the plate and goes "what do you want?" and Papsmear completely loses it. Classic "I gave up four runs to blow the save so let's blame the umpire" attitude.
ReplyDeleteProps to Francona for pushing pap away from the umpire,unfortunately not before contact. Salty should have done more to hold pap back.
ReplyDeleteAlso,there were media reports saying Francona was also ejected in this game.The box score doesn't suggest that,but can anyone confirm whether or not he was officially or unofficially ejected?
IMO,Randazzo is an umpire many don't know about-which is a good thing. He isn't spectacular,but he isn't one of those who ejects people for exercise or has to be apart of the show.He does his job and goes home.
Pap has a bad attitude so i'm not surprised he did the "damn umpire" attitude. Tek i'm a little more surprised,but it was probably frustration or saving pap.
Papelbon has a terrible attitude, absolutely no surprise he got run. Varitek, who knows why he decided to confront Tony during the middle of a play. That's petty dumb.
ReplyDeleteHere's an interesting sidenote. Randazzo hasn't had an ejection since 2007. It's a wonder his ejection mechanic is as solid as it is.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/R/Prandt901.htm
These were Randazzo's first ejections since 2007. That tells me Varitek and Papelbon defineately earned there ejections. I agree Randazzo is one of the more underrated umps in the league. There is a reason he was an ALCS Umpire last year. I would also put Ted Barrett and Brian O'Nora in the category of umpires who go about there business and are rarely noticed but are very solid umpires who consistently recieve playoff assignments and will not eject someone unless they really deserve it.
ReplyDeleteYes, as specified by the UEFL Historical Data page, these are Randazzo's first ejections since September 2, 2007. That gives Randazzo nine ejections since the 2005 season (zero in '05, three in '06, four in '07, two in '11). The UEFL archives show Randazzo's 2007 ejections as: April 28 (NYM-WSH; Willie Randolph), June 2 (DET-CLE; Jim Leyland), June 15 (SF@BOS; David Ortiz), Sept 2 (HOU@CHC; Aramis Ramirez)
ReplyDeleteFrom the UEFL archives: HP Umpire Tony Randazzo ejected Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez for arguing a strike three call... Sept 2, 2007. See Ejections: Tony Randazzo (4) for Randazzo's final 2007 ejection.
Good job Varitek and Papelbon- holding Randazzo accountable for a horrendously called game.
ReplyDeleteThese recent Boston fans sure have some arrogance about them, they think they're more accurate 100s of feet away than a computer that is proven to be accurate to within an inch!
ReplyDeleteI'll put it this way... if Randazzo didn't run Papelbon, Francona would have taken him out after that batter.
ReplyDeleteSo Papelbon comes out and says he wasn't even talking to Randazzo... Really... Who are you yelling "Really?" at, the pitch f/x computer? Papelbon is a liar in addition to a rotten man.
ReplyDeleteMLB suspended Papelbon 3 games, he is appealing.
ReplyDeleteMany times the appeals are reduced 1 game. However, this could be just suspensions for altercations on the field with other players. Hopefully, with contact on umpires, a suspension is never reduced. What a crybaby. Take your suspension and go sit down and quit flapping your arms on close pitches to show the umpire up. Quit throwing your arms up and then saying you were only communicating to the catcher, and trying to get a cheap shot on the umpires knowing you can then say I was talking to my catcher. What a bush league cover up. Typical player, typical.
ReplyDeleteExactly as predicted - Paps went down to a 2 game suspension. Sounds about right, not that the Red Sox need a closer right now anyway...
ReplyDelete